Smith named to SEC football leadership council

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Arkansas junior defensive lineman T.J. Smith will represent the Razorbacks on the SEC Football Leadership Council, which convenes at the league office Friday and Saturday.

The Football Leadership Council consists of one football student-athlete from each of the SEC’s 14 institutions and is one of three components of the SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Council.

The other two consist of representatives on the Men’s and Women’s Basketball Leadership Councils.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey introduced new Student-Athlete Leadership Councils in 2016 for the sports of football and men’s and women’s basketball which, in addition to the conference’s longstanding Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), provide student-athletes with additional opportunities to engage with campus leaders and conference office staff.

The councils serve as a conduit of communication to the conference office on issues related to student-athlete experience and student-athlete wellness.

Among the agenda items for the group this weekend is a review of NCAA and SEC legislative items, open discussion on topics submitted by members of the Council, and engagement with football officials on rules of the game and student-athlete/referee interaction.

Marcus Spears, SEC Network analyst and former SEC football student-athlete, will also meet with the group to discuss leadership and career development.

Recent legislation passed by representatives from Autonomy Conferences that increased the allowance provided to student-athletes who serve as hosts for visiting recruits was initially proposed by the SEC Football Student-Athlete Leadership Council last year.

A native of Moultrie, Georgia, Smith started all 12 games last season, recording 26 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and one fumble forced.

In addition to Smith, the student-athletes who comprise the SEC Football Leadership Council are: Josh Casher (Alabama), Derrick Brown (Auburn); Jeremiah Moon (Florida), Charlie Woerner (Georgia), Jordan Griffin (Kentucky), Blake Ferguson (LSU), Javon Patterson (Ole Miss), Gerri Green (Mississippi State), Damarea Crockett (Missouri), Bryson Allen-Williams (South Carolina), Micah Abernathy (Tennessee), Braden Mann (Texas A&M), Khari Blasingame (Vanderbilt), and Brandon Lee (Missouri – Autonomy Representative).

Speed gives Hogs vault title, but team falls to Bama

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Senior Braie Speed secured the vault title as 8th-ranked Arkansas fell to No. 10 Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Friday night, 197.000-196.350.

“We were a little off tonight as far as some of our landings,” said coach Mark Cook. “We did a decent job, but we didn’t maximize our potential tonight. We’ve got to do a little better on the road, but the girls had a lot of focus and a lot of energy and we competed pretty hard here.”

First Rotation: Arkansas Bars: 49.075, Alabama Vault: 48.950

Arkansas led by a slight margin over the Crimson Tide after the first rotation. The Razorbacks got four scores over 9.800, with freshman Sydney Laird leading the way with a 9.850. Senior Braie Speed and freshman Sarah Shaffer were just behind Laird, each tallying a 9.825. Sophomore Hailey Garner got the solid score in the anchor spot that Arkansas needed to take the lead, recording a 9.800.

Second Rotation: Alabama Bars: 49.325, Arkansas Vault: 48.825

Competing just five athletes on vault, Arkansas fell behind in the second rotation by a score of 98.275-97.900. Speed and Wellick led all Razorbacks with scores of 9.850 and 9.800, respectively. Junior Sydney McGlone was Arkansas third best scorer, recording a 9.775 in the third spot in the rotation. Speed’s score gave her a share of the event title with Alabama’s Nickie Guerrero.

Third Rotation: Arkansas Floor: 49.325, Alabama Beam: 49.325

Arkansas got solid scores from its entire lineup on floor, including a 9.900 from Shaffer. Sophomores Hailey Garner and Jessica Yamzon were right behind Shaffer with scores of 9.875 each. Arkansas was unable to gain ground on the Crimson Tide, as each team matched event scores of 49.325 on its apparatus.

Fourth Rotation: Alabama Floor: 49.400, Arkansas Beam: 49.125

Shaffer led Arkansas with a 9.900 on beam, while Yamzon and Carter recorded scores of 9.825. Wellick recorded a 9.800 and Burton tallied a 9.775 to round out Arkansas’ scoring in the final rotation.

Sarah Shaffer won the all-around with a score of 39.350 while Yamzon recorded a 39.150.

Up Next

The Razorbacks return home next Friday for another Southeastern Conference showdown against the Auburn Tigers inside Barnhill Arena.

The meet is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Jacobus strengthens national pole vault lead in Texas meet

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0

LUBBOCK, Texas — Competing in Lubbock at Texas Tech’s brand new Sports Performance Center, No. 1 Arkansas kicked off the two-day Texas Tech Open with three event wins and strong marks in the field.

The highlight of the day came in the pole vault as junior Lexi Jacobus strengthened her national lead by 1¼ inches with an indoor personal best clearance of 4.64m/15-2¾.

Event Winners:
• 60 Meters – Payton Chadwick, 7.34
• Long Jump – Taliyah Brooks, 6.37m/20-10¾
• Pole Vault – Lexi Jacobus, 4.64m/15-2¾

Pole Vault Power

The Arkansas pole vault crew dominated its competition for the fourth-consecutive week, with Razorbacks sweeping first through fifth place.

It was the second-consecutive victory for Jacobus and her third top-two finish of the season.

All-American vaulters Tori Hoggard and Desiree Freier, placed second and third, respectively, both improving upon their season bests.

Hoggard moved up to No. 3 in the NCAA with a clearance of 4.54m/14-10¾, while Freier moved up to No. 5 with a clearance of 4.39m/14-4¾.

Morgan Hartsell and Rylee Robinson, rounded out the group finishing in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Elsewhere in the field redshirt senior Taliyah Brooks captured the long jump title with a season best mark of 6.37m/20-10¾, improving her national standing in the event from 10th in the NCAA to fifth.

The top combined events performer in the country among college competitors, Brooks now ranks inside the NCAA top-five in three events: 60-meter hurdles, long jump and pentathlon.

On the Track

Springdale native Payton Chadwick carried the banner for Arkansas on the track, placing first in the 60-meter dash with a PR of 7.34. Her performance moved her up to fifth in program history.

Along with Chadwick, four other Razorbacks qualified for the finals and finished among the top-eight best in the field including Kiara Parker (7.43, third), Taliyah Brooks (7.44, fourth), Tamara Kuykendall (7.47, fifth) and Janeek Brown (7.50, seventh).

Events To Watch (Saturday):
• 400 Meters | 12:15 p.m. on Texas Tech TV (subscription required)
Featured Razorback: Payton Chadwick (PR: 53.42)

• Millrose Games Mile | 4:27 p.m. CT on NBC
Featured Razorback: Nikki Hltz (PR: 4:34.57)

Texas Tech Open
February 2, 2018
Sports Performance Center (Lubbock, Texas)

60 Meters Prelims
1. Payton Chadwick – 7.37
2. Kiara Parker – 7.42
3. Taliyah Brooks – 7.42
7. Tamara Kuykendall – 7.56
8. Janeek Brown – 7.59
19. Morgan Burks-Magee – 7.73

60 Meters Finals
1. Payton Chadwick – 7.34
3. Kiara Parker – 7.43
4. Taliyah Brooks – 7.44
5. Tamara Kuykendall – 7.47
7. Janeek Brown – 7.50

Pole Vault
1. Lexi Jacobus – 4.64m/15-2¾
2. Tori Hoggard – 4.54m/14-10¾
3. Desiree Freier – 4.39m/14-4¾
4. Morgan Hartsell – 3.99m/13-1
5. Rylee Robinson – 3.99m/13-1
7. Ellie Ramos-Mata – 3.84m/12-7¼

Long Jump
1. Taliyah Brooks – 6.37m/20-10¾

Oparenovic’s paces Hogs’ victory over Sooners on Friday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0

NORMAN, Okla. — Behind a top-15 win from junior Ana Oparenovic and a three-set match-clinching victory from sophomore Giulia Pairone, Arkansas rallied past Oklahoma 4-3 on Friday at the Headington Family Tennis Center.

With the team score tied 3-3, Pairone cruised to a 6-0 victory in the third set at No. 3 singles to take the match, 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-0 and clinch the team’s win.

“We had a lot of people come back tonight from some tough positions, both in singles and doubles,” head coach Michael Hegarty said. “It really was a great total team effort.”

The Razorbacks (2-2) won the doubles point for the fourth straight match this season and picked up three singles victories to top the Sooners (1-4).

Oklahoma’s Skyler Miller and Malene Stripp struck first in doubles, winning 6-3 at No. 3, but Arkansas won the final two matches to claim the opening point. The Razorbacks got a 6-4 win from Pairone and senior Mia Jurasic at No. 2 and then earned a 7-5 victory from Oparenovic and freshman Tatum Rice at the top spot.

In singles, the Sooners leveled the match with a win at No. 6 from Miller. But the Razorbacks quickly found the lead again when Oparenovic delivered a 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 win at the top spot over No. 14 ranked Lily Miyazaki and Rice won a three-setter at No. 5 against Stripp.

The Sooners pulled even with wins at No. 4 and then No. 2, but Pairone, who is now 4-0 on the season, sealed the overall team win for the Razorbacks.

Up Next
Arkansas will play Oklahoma State (4-1) at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Arkansas 4, Oklahoma 3

Singles Competition
1. Ana Oparenovic (AR) def. No. 14 Lily Miyazaki (OU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
2. Jasmine Asghar (OU) def. Mia Jurasic (AR) 6-1, 6-7 (1-7), 6-2
3. Giulia Pairone (AR) def. Christiana Brigante (OU) 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-0
4. Camila Romero (OU) def. Natsuho Arakawa (AR) 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
5. Tatum Rice (AR) def. Malene Stripp (OU) 7-5, 1-6, 6-1
6. Skyler Miller (OU) def. Peyton Jennings (AR) 6-1, 7-5

Doubles Competition
1. Ana Oparenovic/Tatum Rice (AR) def. Jasmine Asghar/Lily Miyazaki (OU) 7-5
2. Mia Jurasic/Giulia Pairone (AR) def. Christiana Brigante/Simran Kaur Sethi (OU) 6-4
3. Skyler Miller/Malene Stripp (OU) def. Peyton Jennings/Natsuho Arakawa (AR) 6-3

Match Notes
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,1,5,4,2,3)

KNWA VIDEO: Neighbors looking at Alabama matchup

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0

VIDEO FROM KNWA

Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors met with the media Friday afternoon to talk about Sunday’s matchup on the road against Alabama.

Arkansas hosts tripleheader Saturday against Wichita State, St. Louis

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0

FAYETTEVILLE — Looking to get back in the win column, Arkansas hosts a tripleheader on Saturday at the Billingsley Tennis Center, as the Razorbacks face Wichita State at 10 a.m., followed by a doubleheader with Saint Louis.

Less than a month into the 2018 season, the Razorbacks hold a 2-3 record, after splitting a pair of matches at the ITA Kickoff Weekend in Athens, Georgia, against the Memphis Tigers and Iowa Hawkeyes.

After falling 4-3 to the Tigers, Arkansas bounced back in the consolation match against the Hawkeyes, coming from behind to win 4-3, after picking up victories on the final two courts to overtake Iowa.

Senior Jose Salazar leads Arkansas with a 4-1 mark at the top singles spot this spring, as freshman Josh Howard-Tripp follows with a 3-2 record at the No. 4 spot.

The pair lead the Razorbacks with a 3-2 mark in doubles action at the No. 2 spot.

The Razorbacks hold the advantage over Wichita State with a 12-1 mark over the Shockers, last meeting in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament, where the Razorbacks picked up their first win in the tournament in 10 years, defeating WSU 4-2 to advance to the round of 32.

Arkansas holds a 7-1 record against Saint Louis, including a 6-1 win last season at home.

Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday

Morning Rush Hour 3

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0
Morning Rush Hour 3

Hogs hit road for rematch with Alabama on Sunday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas travels to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for a Southeastern Conference rematch with the Crimson Tide on Sunday.

The game tips at 1 p.m. and will air on the SEC Network.

Arkansas (11-11, 2-7 SEC) suffered an 83-76 loss to the Tide (14-8, 4-5 SEC) in Bud Walton Arena earlier this year.

The Razorbacks had a 55-50 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but Alabama went 20-for-25 from the line in the final frame to escape with the win.

Scouting Arkansas
The Razorbacks have three players averaging in double figures paced by junior Malica Monk. The North Little Rock native checks in at 16.0 points per game.

Graduate student Devin Cosper averages 14.8 ppg and Jailyn Mason adds 10.5 ppg this season.

Arkansas continues to play well despite working though the toughest teams in the SEC and the nation in recent games.

The Razorbacks have played three ranked teams, and two others who got ranked shortly after facing Arkansas.

In addition, Arkansas has four more games against nationally-ranked teams this season. A tall order for a team in its first year with their head coach.

Speaking of tall – Arkansas is not. The Razorbacks continue to be undersized in the post this year. Despite that fact, Arkansas ranks tied for sixth in the SEC in rebounding offense, ninth in offensive rebounds and sixth in defensive rebounds.

Scouting Alabama
Alabama fell to in-state rival Auburn, 69-60, in their most recent game. The Crimson Tide committed 25 turnovers leading to 29 Tiger points in the loss.

Hannah Cook (11.3 ppg) and Ashely Williams (10.6 ppg) are Alabama’s leading scorers with Williams doubling as their leading rebounder (6.5 rpg) as well.

The Tide are efficient from the field, shooting 40.4% and they rank among the SEC leaders in steals. Another important stat — Alabama is 10-2 at home.

They average nearly 2,500 fans per game and Coleman Coliseum will be a challenging environment on Sunday.

Up Next
There are just six regular season games remaining for the Razorbacks. Arkansas returns home hosting No. 12 Tennessee on Feb. 8 and welcomes No. 15 Missouri on Feb. 11.

The Razorbacks have another rematch, this time at Kentucky, on Feb. 15 followed by home games with LSU, who is getting votes in the national poll, and No. 14 Texas A&M.

The regular season concludes with a trip to Vanderbilt on Feb. 25.

Morning Rush Hour 2

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0
Morning Rush Hour 2

Morning Rush Hour 1

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0

1...1,6501,6511,652...1,812Page 1,651 of 1,812